In recent years, the rise of the BRIC economies (China, India, Brazil and Russia) has caused industries in the developed and even in the developing countries, to shift toward the rising economies. The Chinese market has in the recent years become the fastest growing market with tremendous potential. Business enterprises have not only laid their eyes on the cheap labor costs, but are also deeply attracted by its market opportunities. Taiwan holds the advantage of being close in geographic proximity, and similar language and culture with China. Many Taiwanese business enterprises have made China the first choice when considering extending business to foreign markets. However, the enormous market incentives have accelerated competition within the industry. In addition to survival, it is more important for business enterprises to continually grow and profit. Therefore it is the aim of this study to investigate how business enterprises could find ways of ensuring its survival, which allows it to grow and profit, in the fierce Chinese battlefield. It is hoped from the study of Chinese business environment and analysis of current status, that key success factors of Taiwanese business enterprises in the industry can be identified. It is expected that the results of the study can be valuable recommendations to the industry. The traditional industries have always been the foundation of Taiwan¡¦s economic growth. The contributions made by the manufacturing industry to the economic growth of Taiwan cannot be overlooked. However, as the high-tech industries prosper and change of the domestic industry structure, traditional industries had been in an inferior position with respect to acquisition of resource, such as human and financial resources. Faced with a fierce competitive environment, how the traditional manufacturing industries break out of the growth-stagnant bottleneck requires the identification of key success factors of the industry. Business strategies should be developed according to such factors, putting effort in strengthening and building on the success factors, so that greatest leverage of limited resources can bring profit and continued competitive advantage. Although the copper alloy industry is considered a traditional industry, its products serve downstream users in ironmongery, electric appliance and electronics. The industry has its critical value of existence in the market¡¦s supply chain. Hence, the copper alloy plants have been chosen as he subject for this study. Through research and analysis of the industry, the study seeks to identify the critical success factors of copper alloy strip manufacturers in managing the Chinese market. The results will enable business enterprises to develop strategies for managing the Chinese market. This is a qualitative case study. Three largest copper alloy strip manufacturers were selected for the case study. Further to collection of secondary data on the copper alloy strip industry and supply-demand status of the China market, interviews were conducted with middle to senior managers of the manufacturers in the industry. Through the arrangement, analysis and study of secondary data and interviews, key success factors of the copper alloy industry were identified. The buying decisions and end user perspectives were referenced to validate the success factors identified from research. The study hopes to include the end user¡¦s purchasing perspectives into the key success factors identified from industry analysis. It is hoped that the key factors identified could be more objective, so that the success factors would be of value to business enterprises. Lastly, the key success factors of Taiwanese copper alloy strip manufacturers in conducting business in China are: (1) acquisition of core technology for high level products, (2) acquiring personnel with international capabilities and specialized knowledge in copper industry, (3) promote the bargaining power with raw material suppliers, (4) sound financial structure and financial management capabilities, and (5) establishment of network relationships. These five key success factors revolve around three critical resources, namely technology, human resource and financial resource. Through external networks, the strength of these three internal resources can bring about positive effects.

Information system projects are gaining immense popularity among the manufacturing organisations across the globe. Due to the challenges associated with the information system project management with the manufacturing organisation, organisations have started focusing on technology-oriented solutions such as Information system (IS) projects. However, the success or failure of these projects is ultimately dependent on a range of critical success factors. The purpose of the research was to investigate the Critical Success Factors (CSF) in an Information System (IS) project using the case of Wartsila, a manufacturing organisation operating in marine and energy sector. For this purpose, a qualitative research method was adopted with semi-structured interviews carried out with the IT manager, the Integration Manager (Int. M), and the project teams involved in the project. Thematic analysis, which was chosen as the appropriate data analysis method, assisted in the identification of several codes that were categorized and finally guided to the extraction of seven (7) key themes. A conceptual framework was drawn from the secondary literature review containing CSF within the two major categories such as subjective and objective CSFs. The set of subjective CSFs included project management and team member, commitment and management support, training, change management perceptions, communication, and project planning and management. On the other side, the set of objective CSFs included the process of redesigning, technological difficulties in system design, costs, time engineering, and quality.   These literature-based factors were simultaneously analysed by the responses of the interviewees, ultimately ending up in the development of a modified and comprehensive framework for the manufacturing organisation. The findings revealed the significance of subjective factor in shaping the accomplishment of objective factors, drive the project towards the success. These findings have further recommended the need for culturally sensitive ‘training’ and integration of formal and informal ‘communication’ methods for the success of the projects in the manufacturing organisations.

As ações conjuntas vêm sendo adotadas por vários segmentos produtivos visando desempenho e competitividade dos empreendimentos para garantir a presença em mercados mundiais. O agronegócio tem importância no processo de desenvolvimento econômico do Brasil como um todo e do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul pela sua capacidade de geração de riquezas, criação de empregos, transferência e circulação de renda, desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias, pesquisas e desenvolvimento da ciência em geral. Estudos também avaliam o potencial das parcerias rurais, enfocando cinco capitais como categorias de ativos que interferem na formação de parcerias, pois é de grande importância a compreensão dos produtores rurais sobre a estreita relação entre a expansão dos bens de capital e a capacitação organizacional. O problema verificado na presente pesquisa refere-se ao processo de formação de estratégias conjuntas no processo de criação de ovinos em escala local, originando a questão-problema que conduziu a pesquisa: Quais os principais fatores de produção (capitais) que contribuem e que limitam o processo de formação de estratégias conjuntas visando à ampliação da capacidade de produção e a competitividade? O estudo teve por objetivo analisar estes fatores. Para isso, foi utilizado o método de investigação de natureza qualitativa e descritiva, a fim de apreender as características do fenômeno e projetar possíveis melhorias no processo proporcionando uma nova visão do problema. A investigação teve início a partir da literatura originária dos diversos autores com estudos relacionados à formação de estratégias conjuntas. Foram definidas categorias de análise baseadas na avaliação de fatores de produção, denominados de capitais humano, financeiro, natural, social e físico. A região selecionada para o desenvolvimento do estudo abrange as cidades de Santa Maria, São Pedro do Sul, Dilermando de Aguiar e São Martinho da Serra, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, com uma população-alvo constituída de produtores de pequeno porte na produção de ovinos de lã e de corte. Foram aplicadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas como instrumento de coleta de dados. Os resultados encontrados evidenciaram que os produtores apresentam potencial capacidade de desenvolver estratégias conjuntas, com estrutura suficiente para obter eficiência, sendo os fatores de convivência, os quais estão relacionados ao capital social, considerados como os indutores do processo. O estudo evidenciou ainda falta de entendimento e compreensão dos pesquisados com as questões relativas às preocupações ambientais. / Joint actions are being taken by many productive segments targeting performance and competitiveness of projects to ensure its presence in world markets. Agribusiness has importance economic development process in Brazil\'s as a whole and the State of Rio Grande do Sul for its ability to generate wealth, create jobs, transference and circulation of income, development of new technologies, research and development of science in general. Studies also evaluate the potential of rural partners, focusing on five capitals as asset categories that interfere in the formation of partners, it is very important to understand the rural farmers about the close relationship between the expansion of capital assets and organizational skills. The problem encountered in this study refers to the formation of joint strategies in the process of sheep farming on a local scale causing the problem-question who led the research : What are the main factors of production (capital) which contribute and which limit the process of formation of joint strategies aimed at expanding of production capacity and competitiveness? The study aimed to analyze these factors. For this, we used the method of investigation of qualitative and descriptive in nature, a view to apprehend the characteristics of the phenomenon and projecting possible improvements in the process by providing a new view of the problem. The investigation began from the literature of the different authors with studies associated to the formation of joint strategies . were defined categories of analysis based on the evaluation of factors of production, called human capital, financial, natural, social and physical . The region selected for the development of the study includes the cities of Santa Maria, São Pedro do Sul, Dilermando de Aguiar and São Martinho da Serra in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with a target population consists of small producers in the production of sheep wool and cutting. Semi-structured interviews were applied as a tool for data collection. The findings results indicated that producers have the potential capacity to develop joint strategies, with structure large enough to achieve efficiency, and the cohabitation factors, which are related to the social capital, considered as inducers of process. The study also revealed a lack of understanding and comprehension of respondents with issues related to environmental concerns.

The aim of this master thesis is to analyze the present condition of sharing economy and design a critical success factors model on a IT startups which operate as a transportation network companies. The result is finally validated on few representative businesses. The problem is solved by the modified qualitative critical success factors method whose author is John F. Rockart. The gained factors were finally used in the causal model which is based on the principles of system dynamics. The outcomes of this thesis are enabling to understand the relations which are hidden behind success of transportation network companies in the area of sharing economy. The information can be useful not only for startups but also for academic sphere and possible investors.

The purposes of this dissertation were to define enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, assess the varying performance benefits flowing from different ERP system implementation statuses, and investigate the impact of critical success factors (CSFs) on the ERP system deployment process. A conceptual model was developed and a survey instrument constructed to gather data for testing the hypothesized model relationships. Data were collected through a cross-sectional field study of Indian production firms considered pioneers in understanding and implementing ERP systems. The sample data were drawn from a target population of 900 firms belonging to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The production firms in the CII member directory represent a well-balanced mix of firms of different sizes, production processes, and industries. The conceptual model was tested using factor analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and univariate Anova. The results indicate that the contributions of different ERP system modules vary with different measures of changes in performance and that a holistic ERP system contributes to performance changes. The results further indicate that the contributions of CSFs vary with different measures of changes in performance and that CSFs and the holistic ERP system influences the success achieved from deployments. Also, firms that emphasize CSFs throughout the ERP implementation process achieve greater performance benefits as compared to those that focus on CSFs during the initial ERP system deployment. Overall, the results of the study support the relationships hypothesized in the conceptual model.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-25T18:39:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rui Pereira Gomes.pdf: 1914678 bytes, checksum: aed5c6c641afac448e24e239d9e31402 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-22 / Municipal budgets designed in a participatory manner are viewed by many scholars and politicians as a mechanism of improvement in exercise of democracy, and in this context, particularly in South America and Europe, have been adopted by several cities with political backgrounds, social and distinct economic, the Participatory Budget - OP, as a tool for inclusion of citizenship. Thus, the problem this study sought to determine how budgeting occurs in the cities of Braga in Portugal and Sao Bernardo do Campo in Brazil, aiming to identify the critical success factors common to the cases examined by exploratory and descriptive research documents, guided by multiple case study and subsidized by the literature review, field observation and interviews with managers in the municipalities of PBs. The survey took place from July 2010 to June 2011. The results showed that the OP of Sao Bernardo do Campo, which adopted the deliberative logic, has been ratified as an instrument of citizenship as a result of critical success factors that were identified as the political will of elected representatives, the engagement of the population and structure created to encourage citizen participation in all stages of the budget process. In Braga, which uses a consultative manner, despite the interest of the representatives, was not satisfactory developed a structure that supported the OP in all its phases, particularly in relation to the quantity of technical staff / Os orçamentos municipais concebidos de forma participativa estão sendo vistos por diversos estudiosos e políticos como um mecanismo de aperfeiçoamento no exercício da democracia, e nesse contexto, particularmente na América do Sul e Europa, têm sido adotado, por diversas cidades com cenários políticos, sociais e econômicos distintos, o Orçamento Participativo OP, como instrumento de inclusão da cidadania. Assim, o problema deste estudo procurou verificar como ocorre a elaboração orçamentária nos municípios de Braga em Portugal e em São Bernardo do Campo no Brasil, com o objetivo de identificar os fatores críticos de sucesso comuns aos processos analisados, através da pesquisa exploratório-descritiva de documentos, orientada pelo estudo de caso múltiplo e subsidiada pela pesquisa bibliográfica, observação em campo e entrevista com os gestores dos OPs nos municípios. A pesquisa ocorreu de julho de 2010 a junho de 2011. Os resultados demonstraram que o OP de São Bernardo do Campo, que adotou a lógica deliberativa, vem se consolidando como um instrumento de cidadania em decorrência de fatores críticos de sucesso que foram identificados como, a vontade política dos representantes eleitos, o engajamento da população e a estrutura criada favorecer a participação cidadã em todas as etapas do processo orçamentário. Em Braga, que utiliza a forma consultiva, apesar do interesse dos representantes, não foi desenvolvida uma estrutura satisfatória que desse suporte ao OP em todas as suas fases, particularmente em relação ao quantitativo de pessoal técnico

The main objective of this thesis is to create a list of critical success factors (CSF) of Business Intelligence implementation in the non-commercial sector and check this list in practice on real projects. Part of the thesis is also the summary of all specifics and differences of BI implementation in public sector and the view of usage possibilities of BI in this sector in relationship on already implemented projects in the Czech Republic so and abroad. The thesis is composed of theoretical and practical part. Theoretical part is focused on problems related to this area, especially analyses the present state of BI in public sector and features specifics and differences related to BI implementation in this area. Further also describes all significant critical success factors of BI implementation in general. Practical part is then aimed on particular verification of Business Intelligence CSFs on real projects realized in non-commercial sector inside of the Czech Republic. As a main tool for obtaining needed and objective information were used managed interviews with competent deputies of submitter (customer) and supplier of particular BI solution. The main contribution of this thesis is determination of differences, but also consistent components of Business Intelligence implementation in non-commercial sector compared to private sector with emphasis on critical success factors. Significant is also the comprehensive view of possibilities and advantages of BI usage in public sector, created by analysis of already implemented projects. These achieved results can be utilized by future (and contemporary) suppliers and submitters of BI projects, but also of other projects from information science area.

The topic of this diploma thesis is "Critical success factors of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises" Firstly, the terms enterprise resource planning system, small and medium sized enterprise and critical factor are defined. Part of this thesis is also dedicated to the importance of those systems in small and medium sized enterprises and the supply of products on the market is described as well. The importance of enterprise resource planning systems for this segment of customers is still growing and the number of products offered is quite wide. Customers have unambiguously preferred Czech solutions. Next part of the thesis contains critical factors literature search -- analysis of two studies. Conceptual model of critical factors is made on the basis of findings and comparison of those two studies. The relevance of this model is verified by the analysis of case studies of enterprise resource planning system implementations in small and medium sized enterprises. These case studies were downloaded from websites of system vendors. On the basis of new findings, new model was designed. Each critical factor is described in each part of the thesis to help understand under which circumstances it was used. Finally, the model is assessed.

Cette recherche a pour but de répondre à deux impératifs : travailler pour un secteur d’activité porteur économiquement, mais peu étudié scientifiquement : le domaine de la Rénovation, et proposer aux acteurs de ce secteur des outils d’accompagnement forts pour leur permettre de réussir leur transition numérique, enjeu majeur du XXIe siècle. L’état de l’art initial a démontré que, dans un contexte lié à la diffusion d’un Système d’Information tel que le BIM, il était indispensable de s’appuyer sur des leviers contribuant à son implantation : les Facteurs Clés de Succès, les fondamentaux du management de projet, la rédaction de Conventions BIM, l’Approche Intégrée de Projet et enfin les Modèles de Maturité. Pour s’assurer de l’adéquation entre ces différents leviers et les spécificités de la Rénovation, une enquête a été réalisée auprès d’un panel représentatif des petites entreprises qui le composent majoritairement. Elle a permis de confirmer l’état peu avancé de ce secteur dans la transition numérique en raison de la taille des structures elles-mêmes et de situations économiques réduisant souvent l’horizon de projection. Les acteurs ne sont, par ailleurs, pas toujours conscients de la nécessité du changement (se satisfaisant généralement de la 2D et de procédés artisanaux) et sont donc peu enclins à investir dans des solutions numériques telles que le BIM. En dépit des réticences qui ont pu être exprimées, la plupart des acteurs ont toutefois bien conscience que pour tirer parti de la transition au lieu de la subir, il faut qu’ils puissent être dotés d’outils d’accompagnement spécifiques à leurs usages et pratiques. Un référentiel permettant de mesurer leur maturité et ensuite de définir de façon réaliste leurs propres objectifs de développement : « BIM Maturity Model For Renovation » ou BiM²FR a donc été conçu. Le format choisi et la simplicité voulue de mise en œuvre devraient permettre aux petites entreprises de facilement caractériser leur situation et d’identifier leurs points faibles et forts, puis d’élaborer les grandes lignes de plans d'action individuels et appropriés à leurs activités. Les facteurs clés de succès étudiés et intégrés en filigrane dans le BiM²FR sont les marqueurs et gages de succès qui permettront aux entreprises de progresser au cours de la mise en œuvre du BIM. Pour élargir la portée de ce travail, une interface WEB libre permettant aux entreprises d’effectuer leur diagnostic de maturité BIM, a été développée. Le site www.BiM2FR.eu, outre l’aide qu’il peut apporter aux entreprises, offre, par l’intermédiaire des données collectées et échangées, un grand nombre de perspectives de recherches. / This research aims to answer two imperatives: 1) promote an economically promising sector, Renovation, that has not been subject to much scientific study; and 2) offer companies in this sector useful tools to help them succeed in their digital transition, a major challenge of the 21st century. When it comes to disseminating an Information System such as BIM, it is essential to use levers that enhance its implementation: the Critical Success Factor, fundamentals of Project Management, drafting BIM Execution Plans, an Integrated Project Delivery approach and Maturity Models. To ensure the right fit between these different levers and the specific needs of the Renovation segment, we conducted a survey with a representative panel of small enterprises, predominant in this sector. This survey confirmed that the sector is still in the early days of digital transition due to the small size of companies and economic situations that often reduce visibility and the ability to make long-term investment decisions. Small renovation firms are not always aware of the need for change (they are generally satisfied with 2D drawings and artisanal processes) and are therefore reluctant to invest in digital solutions such as BIM. In spite of this, most stakeholders are aware that in order to benefit from the transition or risk being left behind, they must find support in tools specific to their uses and practices. To measure their maturity and then realistically define their own development objectives, we therefore developed a "BIM Maturity Model for Renovation" or BiM²FR. The format and ease of implementation should enable small enterprises to identify their situation, emphasize their strengths and weaknesses, and then outline individual action plans suited to their activities. The Critical Success Factors analyzed and presented within BiM²FR should guarantee successful progress as companies implement BIM. In order to broaden the scope of this work, we created a free web interface for companies to make their own BIM maturity diagnosis. The site www.BiM2FR.eu, in addition to helping these companies, offers us, through the data collected and exchanged, a large number of research opportunities.

Information and communication technology (ICT) greatly influence today’s business processes be it in public or private sectors. Everything that is done in business requires ICT in one way or the other. Research in ICTs is therefore critical. So much research was and is still carried out in projects that develop or enhance ICT but it is still apparent that the success rate of these projects is still very low. The extensive coverage of ICTs implies that if the success rate is still that low, many resources are being wasted in the failed projects; therefore, more research is needed to improve the success rate. Previous research has focussed on factors which are critical for the success of ICT projects, assuming that all ICT projects are the same. As a result, literature is full of different suggestions and guidelines of the factors critical to ICT projects’ success. This scenario brings challenges to project managers who end up using their own personal judgement to select which factors to consider for any project at hand. The end result is the high failure rate of ICT projects since there is a very high chance of applying the same critical success factors to different types of ICT projects. This research answered the question: which factors are critical to the success of computer networking projects in Zimbabwe and how these factors could be used for building a model that determines in advance the success of such projects? Literature reviewed indicated that most CSFs were not focused on specific types of ICT projects, hence were generalised. No literature was found on ICT projects’ CSFs in Zimbabwe. More so, no CSFs were found for computer networking projects as a specific instance of ICT projects. No model existed that predicts computer networking projects’ success. This study addressed the gaps by developing a CSF framework for ICT projects in Zimbabwe, determining CSFs for computer networking projects in Zimbabwe and the development of a logistic regression analysis model to predict computer networking projects’ success in Zimbabwe. Data was collected in Zimbabwe using a unique three-staged process which comprise metasynthesis analysis, questionnaire and interviews. The study was motivated by the fact that most available research focused on CSFs for general ICT projects and that no research was found on CSFs influencing projects in computer networking. Meta-synthesis analysis was therefore conducted on literature in order to identify CSFs as given in literature. The approach was appropriate since the researcher had noticed that there were extensive ICT projects’ CSFs and that no such research has been carried out in Zimbabwe. These CSFs formed the basis for the determination (using a questionnaire) of ICT projects CSFs for Zimbabwe in particular. Project practitioners’ viewpoints were sought through questionnaires. Once CSFs for ICT projects in Zimbabwe were determined, they formed the basis for the determination of unique critical success factors for computer networking projects in Zimbabwe. Interviews were used to get further information that would have been left out by questionnaires. The interview questions were set to clarify some unclear or conflicting responses from the questionnaire and providing in-depth insights into the factors critical to computer networking projects in Zimbabwe. The data i.e. critical success factors for computer networking projects guided the development of the logistic regression analysis model for the prediction of computer networking projects’ success in Zimbabwe. Data analysis from the questionnaire was analysed using SPSS Version 23.0. Factor analysis and principal component analysis were some of the techniques used in the analysis. Interview data was analysed through NVivo Version 10.0. From the results it was deduced that factors critical to ICT project management in Zimbabwe were closely related to those found in the literature. The only apparent difference was that CSFs for ICT projects in Zimbabwe were more specific thereby enhancing their applicability. Computer networking projects had fewer CSFs than general ICT projects. In addition, CSFs for general ICT projects were different from those critical to computer networking projects in Zimbabwe. The development of a comprehensive set of general ICT projects’ CSFs was the first contribution of this study. This was achieved through meta-synthesis analysis. The other contribution was the development of a CSF framework for ICT projects specific to Zimbabwe and those specific to computer networking projects in Zimbabwe. The major contribution was the development of the logistic regression analysis model that predicts computer networking projects’ success in Zimbabwe. These contributions will provide literature on ICT project management in Zimbabwe which will subsequently assist ICT project managers to concentrate on specific factors. The developed prediction model can be used by project managers to determine possible success or failure of ICT projects; thereby possible reducing wastage of resource. / School of Computing